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East Auckland Hammer 12:24 Fri Jun 23
All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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All Blacks side
1. Joe Moody (25)
2. Codie Taylor (16)
3. Owen Franks (91)
4. Brodie Retallick (61)
5. Samuel Whitelock (85)
6. Jerome Kaino (78)
7. Sam Cane (41)
8. Kieran Read (97) - Captain
9. Aaron Smith (59)
10. Beauden Barrett (50)
11. Rieko Ioane (2)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (34)
13. Ryan Crotty (26)
14. Israel Dagg (62)
15. Ben Smith (61)
16. Nathan Harris (5)
17. Wyatt Crockett (59)
18. Charlie Faumuina (47)
19. Scott Barrett (5)
20. Ardie Savea (13)
21. TJ Perenara (30)
22. Aaron Cruden (47)
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (10)
Lions side
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Tadhg Furlong
4 Alun Wyn Jones
5 George Kruis
6 Peter O'Mahony - captain
7 Sean O'Brien
8 Taulupe Faletau
9 Conor Murray
10 Owen Farrell
11 Elliot Daly
12 Ben Te'o
13 Jonathan Davies
14 Anthony Watson
15 Liam Williams
16 Ken Owens
17 Jack McGrath
18 Kyle Sinckler
19 Maro Itoje
20 Sam Warburton
21 Rhys Webb
22 Jonathan Sexton
23 Leigh Halfpenny
Both sides are pretty much as strong as they possibly can be, with only Dane Coles missing for the AB's and Vunipola missing for the Lions.
We all know how the Lions will play - box kick (OFFSIDE!), maul, ruck, scrum, try and win a penalty from either a scrum or a maul, and attempt to suffocate the All Blacks attack with their "rush" (OFFSIDE) defence.
And we all know how the All Blacks will play - move the ball side to side, stretch the defence, play with pace for the full 80 minutes, get quick ruck ball, and eventually try and blow the Lions away in the last 15-20 mins.
The key element for tomorrow night's game will be the weather. There is rain about Auckland tomorrow, but it's supposed to clear up mid to late afternoon. The Lions will, of course, hope that the rain sticks around or returns because it will undoubtedly assist with their gameplan, while naturally, the All Blacks will want a crisp, clear, dry night.
I'm just happy that it appears, for now at least, that we have a competitive series on our hands, and as long as the refs apply the laws correctly to both sides, we should have a fantastic game pitting two clearly differing approaches against each other - the power of the Lions vs the panache of the All Blacks.
Of course, Lions hopes were high in 2005 as well.
I quite possibly won't be on at all tomorrow or Sunday, as again, I have a lot of Indoor Cricket stuff to organise including final training sessions for the Provincials tournament the following week - these things don't run themselves.
So, I'm just giving you fair warning, so that you don't expect me to be posting throughout and immediately after the game.
Enjoy gents.
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Replies - In Chronological Order ( Show Newest Messages First)
Northern Sold
12:27 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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I quite possibly won't be on at all tomorrow or Sunday, as again, I have a lot of Indoor Cricket stuff to organise
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha !!!!! Priceless.....
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Takashi Miike
12:28 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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I think we can expose DAGG
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Takashi Miike
12:29 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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old fucking Arsene Lomas in hiding for the next three days :.)
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East Auckland Hammer
12:33 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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I invite you to TRY and expose any of that back 3 TM. You get a kick slightly wrong, and they will return it with interest.
Dagg has a superb long kicking game, Ben Smith is the best fullback in world rugby, and Ioane has already shown he can create and score out of nothing.
The thing that would concern me, if I was a Lions fan, is what is Plan B?
If the boring as shit power and box kicking game doesn't work, what then?
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Northern Sold
12:37 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Bit like your lot Jonah... only one plan.... 7's Rugby.... lobbing it about and off loads....
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Takashi Miike
12:40 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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if you're memory works, I've said to you plenty of times how much I like and rate Ben Smith. I like Dagg too but not particularly on the wing and would have started with Savea. I agree that the power game fat Warren has opted for through the centre doesn't give us many options if we go behind early but I'm hoping we get a lead and then Farrell will eventually move to centre with Sexton coming on second half. bit limited in regard to replacements for our wings and I've said plenty of times I'm not a fan of constant box kicking. should be a good game
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East Auckland Hammer
12:41 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Yes, we're really one dimensional NS.
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East Auckland Hammer
12:45 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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I wouldn't look at Dagg-Ioane-Smith as two wingers and a fullback.
I'd look at them as two fullbacks and a winger, because that's probably how they will play.
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Ronald_antly
12:53 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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"The thing that would concern me, if I was a Lions fan, is what is Plan B?
If the boring as shit power and box kicking game doesn't work, what then? "
I'd say, fuck that clown Gatland off, and get Eddie Jones over there quick smart for the second Test.
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East Auckland Hammer
12:55 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Yes, because Aussie coaches have a MUCH better record in NZ than Kiwi coaches Ronald.
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Irish Hammer
12:59 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Ben Smith just simply isn't the best fullback in world rugby
Israel Folou is.
To suggest anything else is blinkered.
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Ronald_antly
1:01 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Good coaches have better records than poor coaches.
I'd prefer a British or Irish coach but I'll accept Jones in an emergency. He has a proven track record.
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East Auckland Hammer
1:03 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Folau is a skillful player, but flakey as fuck.
Smith almost NEVER makes a mistake or has a bad game.
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East Auckland Hammer
1:05 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Against NZ Ronald?
He's lost more than he's won.
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Eerie Descent
1:06 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Smith is absolute class, I'd have him in front of Folau as well if I'm honest.
How the fuck Wyn-Jones got in the Lions SQUAD is a travesty, should never be starting in a million years.
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Sven Roeder
2:43 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Is there anyone with a winning record against the AB's that you'd suggest , Jonah?
Personally I think top level international coaches should have the same nationality requirements as the players
Barring that or the lack of any suitable UK candidates (is that really true?) someone like Jones who actually wants NZ to lose would be a better choice than a NZer
As an outsider the impression I got from Gatland was that he only gets truly engaged when HIS style of play was called boring. Like a Kiwi Allardyce. It's a bit of an ego thing rather than a desperate wish to see NZ smashed.
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Sarge
3:05 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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can't wait for this.
best sporting event of the year bar none
Jonah - seeing you talking about offside has got me wondering - Ritchie McCaw used to be offside so often he should have changed his name to Mike Small
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Council Scum
4:08 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Still flabbergasted as to how that useless sack of shit AWJ is in the squad (or on the tour), Itoje coming off the bench as an impact player? He can impact for 80 minutes, its Laws you then want coming on. Likewise JJ you want creating in midfield not that over the hill Davies.
That said, I've bitten the bullet after saying I couldn't give a fuck, now England have won the series in Argentina, I've gone out and bought me and the old man a Lions jersey each, up early on Saturday and me and the old man are having a full English in my mates pub and the game.
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Northern Sold
4:42 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Good man CS.... knew we'd get you on board.... setting the alarm at 6:45 tomorrow to get the hound out first... got a mate coming round at 8:00... can't wait
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Eerie Descent
4:50 Fri Jun 23
Re: All Blacks vs British & Irish Lions - First Test
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Bittersweet for you I suppose Sold0, with so many Englishmen in the team I bet you're gutted?
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